Tom Rachford is Candidate for Technical Region Director of ASCE

Thomas M. Rachford, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE received BSCE and MSCE degrees from the University of Kentucky and a PhD degree from Stanford University.  He is Vice President and  Corporate Quality Officer for Gannett Fleming, Inc., a national engineering and planning firm headquartered in Camp Hill, PA.  He has been an active ASCE volunteer for over 30 years. He has chaired the Session Programs Committee and the Executive Committee for the former Environmental Engineering Division and the TAC Management Group D. He was a founding member of the EWRI and its first Treasurer.  He was an elected officer in the EWRI for four years, including a term as President during the 2003-2004 FY.  His ASCE national committee memberships have included the TAC Operations Task Committee, the TAC Planning Committee, the TAC Reorganization Task Committee, the Institute Task Force, the Council of Institute Leaders and, more recently, the CERF Reengineering Task Committee.

Candidate’s Statement: “…there must be a spirit of teamwork and cooperation and clear lines of communication between the ASCE Board of Direction and the Institute Boards of Governors. The Boards must work in harmony to benefit the profession and the Society, to develop products and services that are valued by members, and solve concerns, issues, and problems.” In simple terms, these words from the 2003 Report by the Task Committee on Institute Operating Procedures set the agenda for a Technical Region ASCE Board member … to facilitate the contribution of the Institutes as the primary technical arm of ASCE while balancing the Society’s overall mission and geographical interests.  Within this context, the Technical Region Directors must help set Society policy, be an agent for change, actively participate in strategic planning, engage in focused and relevant debate and help ASCE staff and member volunteers work agreeably and productively toward shared goals.